For the first time ever, gay veterans will be allowed to march in South Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade next year.

On Monday, the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council voted to approve an application from OutVets, a group that represents lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender military veterans, to participate in the parade.

Although the Allied War Veterans Council has opposed the idea of including gay groups, they agreed to let OutVets march in the parade, which is scheduled for March 15, in a 5-4 vote on Monday night.

Mayor Martin Walsh, who boycotted the event last year over the exclusion of gay vets, applauded the vote.

"We're very pleased to hear that OutVets will be marching in this year's parade," said Walsh's press secretary in a statement Monday, according to the Boston Globe. "Mayor Walsh has been advocating for an inclusive parade for quite some time. We're thrilled to hear that the South Boston Allied Veterans have decided to make the 2015 parade an inclusive event."

Back in 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that parade organizers had the right to ban marchers who proclaimed their sexual orientation from the annual parade.

OutVets founder Bryan Bishop said he was "ecstatic" with the vote.

"We're marching as veterans who happen to be gay," said Bishop, who works as chief of staff in Boston's Veterans Services agency, reports the Associated Press. "We honor the sacrifices of LGBT veterans and their families and the sacrifices all veterans."

"I think it's very significant," said Bishop, an Air Force veteran who works as chief of staff in Boston's Veterans Services department. "Ensuring that there is 100 percent inclusivity is important."

"To other people, it will be a big thing," said Brian Mahoney, commander of the Veterans Council. "But to us, it's a group of veterans that wanted to march and deserved to be honored."

OutVets became the first gay group to march in Boston's Veterans Day parade last month.